Pea Coat Pictures

The pea coat is my favorite winter coat, because it’s the “manliest” out there. It’s originally been worn by 18th century European sailors, who, because of the harsh conditions, needed a double breasted item of clothing to keep them warm.

You’ll recognize the pea coat by its…

– Double breasted jacket
– Wide lapels
– Vertical pockets
– Large buttons

You’ll see in the pictures below why I said it’s so manly. But how the practical uses of a winter coat are more important than the way it looks. So let’s talk about this for a moment.

What’s it made of?

Pea coats are usually made of wool and are of navy blue color. Wool is the best fabric to wear in cold temperatures, which makes the pea coat a good choice.

However, if you face extreme temperatures, you should probably consider something that will keep you even warmer. Pea coats you find in the stores are not really designed for extreme temperatures.

A nice bonus for some pea coats is that their lapels can be turned up and buttoned, to keep your neck warm. You may not need to do this if you like to wear scarves, but it’s good to know.

OK, assuming you don’t live anywhere near the North Pole, let’s see some actual pictures of pea coats.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Here’s a great Tommy Hilfiger pea coat:

Here’s a classic pea coat. It instantly hits you that it’s a man’s coat.

The thing I really want you to notice is the outfit. Notice how the guy is wearing a light gray sweater. The contrast with the coat is very good. The entire outfit is not very colorful, yet it’s very stylish.

Also notice how the last button is kept unbuttoned. This is the way to go unless it’s really cold outside. Just like in the case of suit jackets, the last button should be kept unbuttoned. This is done for two reasons.
The first reason is that you will look more relaxed. Buttoning all your buttons (and this goes for shirts too) will make you look… “tight”.

The second reason is that you’ll feel more comfortable when sitting down. If the last button were buttoned, you’ll feel a little uncomfortable and you would have trouble keeping your legs in a comfortable position.

photo: whsword.files.wordpress.com

Here’s another example. Again, look at the outfit. The pea coat contrasts with the white pants very well. I know some guys would never wear white pants during winter but that’s really a personal choice.

The thing with white pants during winter, autumn and spring is that they can get dirty very easily. But, from a fashion perspective, they’re a great choice that will definitely make you stand out.

The next guy decided he wants a little more attention. He raised the collar from his pea coat. Take a look:

photo: blog.shopfarinellis.com

Some will say this raising the collar thing is outdated. I say, again, that it’s a matter of personal preference.

photo: shoponline20100.com

The pea coat above looks very bold. This may be for you or now, depends on your personality.
Which reminds me of the thing I like most about pea coats. It’s the fact that the lapels for a very deep v-neck, allowing for the sweater or shirt to be visible. In our case, you can see the shirt and tie in-between the lapels. This proves that layering is an art.

To sum up…

Pea coats will give you a classic, manly look. If this is you (and I’m sure it is), a pea coat is the first thing to consider when buying a winter coat. Choose one in either black or navy blue to make sure it will work wih just about any winter outfit.